How many careers are you supposed to have in a lifetime?  I personally think you should have at least three.  You should reinvent yourself at least three times during your career.  If you are just on your second career or looking for it now, great.  You are one-third done with your life.  How great is that?

So you are looking for a second career.  Before you decide on what the second career should be, why don’t we take a look back and see what we can learn from your first career.  Your first career probably lasted 10 or more years.  You were young when you picked it or when it picked you.  Maybe you raised a family on it or are in the middle of it now.  What can you learn from your first career mistakes and successes that will prepare you for your second career?

1. Ask yourself what you learned about they type of work you like to do.  Everyone experiences facets of your job which you like to do and others you hate doing.  List your likes and hates on two sides of a paper and see what you come up with.  Maybe with your second career we can find you something with more pieces from the like column.

2. What did you give up to go in the first career direction?  Sometimes if you can remember what path you decided to take and also remember what you gave up to take that path, it can help frame up some ideas on what you can do this second go-around.  What do you wish you tried back then?  Most of us have crossroads when we start out in a new job and decisions had to be made.  Revisit some of those dusty, old decisions and see if you can re-kindle any  old career flames.

3. What do you want to be when you grow up?  This question can be asked whether you are on your first career, second career or even your third one.  Ask it often and see how your opinion changes based on your experience to date.  You can change your mind.  You can change directions.  Your not “grown up” yet anyways.

4. What new experiences would you like to explore next?  This question opens up your mind to possible second career ideas.  Money is probably a driving force in what career you eventually decide on.  But before we cross that bridge, what have you only dreamed about doing while you were working all those years?  Do you want to explore art or design instead of accounting?  Open your mind to experience things you might not have done in the past and see where that journey takes you.

5. What situation are you looking for?  This should help shape the options you have in front of you.  Do you need to be in a particular geography with no travel.? Do you want to travel now to explore the world?  Think about your day-in-the-life and what you would like it to be.  These type of limitations can really help you hone in on a second career you can fully enjoy.

6. What skills do you need to develop before you take on a second career?  Many times a second career is a complete directional shift.  You might need to go back to school or enter into a training program to help you develop in a new direction.  Get this training while you are employed (if you can) so you can jump-start your new career options.

These six questions will help you start exploring your second career more fully.  Getting a second chance or even a third one to create the career-life you want is exciting.  Take it seriously but have some fun with the possibilities.

Let’s Get Started!

Jeff